Automatic ignition and control mechanism for gas burners



g- 19, 1952 c. M. MAYER ETAL 2,607,407

AUTOMATIC IGNITION AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GAS BURNERS Filed April 12, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 zi' P nvvzaivroles Char/e: M fiaygr BY gfiamae/ Z'C/ag Aug. 19, 1952 c. M. MAYER ETAL 2,607,407

AUTOMATIC IGNITION AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR GAS BURNERS Filed April 12, 1949 Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I a m 4':

' f o O ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1952 c. M. MAYER EI'ALY AUTOMATIC IGNITION AND CONTROL MECHANISM F 'OR GAS BURNEBS Filed April 12, 1949 3- Shegts-Sheet I5 INVENTORQ v (flair/65M flay?! 95220106777 C/zug y sl m chani tic which automatically shutsofi the 'WP I v 9? =t$ i Wi kins ,m ins enlan h tg ume h evitp a jcu rent .i imreend I1 Patented Aug. 19, 1952 emmneie CONTROL MECHANISMFOR GASBURNERS i har e Mex ti n muel T Cre M ns- .assignors to The Tappan Stove oe eny mtths ela, Ohio, a corporation .9:

fApplioafion April'1 2, 1949, Serial No. 86,932

, p This invention relatesto an automatic {i n tio and'control mechenism fora ,cookingran e burner lnsingtgaseous fuel. It is nespeoiallyeadapted "for use with the ovenburners of cooking ranges, and :m us d in njunct on :with a time; contr l mech ni m or; in p nden ly thereofas desi Our improvedimeohani-smlincludes"a pilotburner usingggaseous fuel, by which the main burner is ignited, an electrical: ignition: element-by -yv hich the pilot burner is ignited and a master. Switch which when closed renders theimechanism opera- ,gt e-ayirhe tersiivitch is. operetively. connected .gte thejmain. gas control-waivein such a manner that it is closed by the. opening: iOf. the :control tfilye-andis opened, rendering the mechanism in zoneratiye, Icy the zclosing iQfl the controlyazlv to ignite the mains burner it is. onlyneces- ,siarytoopen the main controlrvalve." The-opening of the control valve closes the master switch which venergizes the electrical ignition element. 'I' h e, ignition element then ignites the pilot burner and, it in turn ignites the main hurnen: When the mechanism is used in conjunction with a time control mechanism the mainburnerv is ignited and extinguished, "after the control valve :has been ,opened and the master switch closed,v according to the setting of the time. control mechanism.

It has'been found bymexperience that boththe pilot ourner ,andIthe main burner are sometimes extinguished while the supply of gas thereto is still .tu ned on by the-main control valve; This fi due toxvarious reasons. Sometimesit-ris due to the -momentary :failure of, the gassupply or to ithe s lamming qf the :oven doogand other reasons.

e e gtlnguishment of ,both the main-'burnerand :pilot -hurner while theses supply. thereto is .still turned on causes anaccumu-lation of unburned gasin the oven which frequently explodes whe n itisendeavoredto reignite the-burners.

lfn r er to prevent any accumulation ofunse ienqthus lim any-da f a explos on herefrom, the :eventthe pilot burner andvm'ain -bl lrn er are extinguished for any reason ,llPPlMQigas thereto is still turnedon, w movie. ,ieo tiimpmve apparat f w trol me n s b whic the sunmy or se t .het t ele et bur er n et mai hu e lis ;P e y. s ut efififiu e e e ly i h we t t lb l s n e esti suish d fe len re s n'wh S eontrqlyalv is open. We also, proh ,.isn. ioe.;elemeht beeches 1 mm vei te riree V 3 Cl s. (01. 1589-135) opening of the-.m iniees ont ol 1.81 tr ce i nition elementth nh m t t c eleme sxw ch a te .s mplyinee e .nit m-th leet i li ied t e -es it shu e tth Ea lJP' Q This safety control mechanism comprises -;a-;nor-

mally closed safety control valve in the mainEgas supply conduitbetween theil main control valve and. the main burner; a normally closed. solenoid operatedivalve :in :a. branch ic'onduit betweenzthe main gas supply ,oonduitv landthe pilot burner through-which gasis' suppliedrto; the pilot burner; a 'pairot thermostatic elements both :of whichzare l adapted to. be heated Joy the pilot burnerawhemignited, Vandvone ofr-which-is, adapted, to be heated "by both,the.:pilot burner and the :electrie.e1-:i :ni-

tion element; andeapair of switches-orient which is adapted to bemaintained,.closed byione: oiae i thermostatic elements while heated end thesother of which is adapted to theme. t. h dopen by th other of said thermostatic-elementswhile.iit is heated.- .,l In-operation the lect ical i nit on elemen s energized when the master switch is elgse he l h, fthe therzhe normally open switch and ma; s, on esflthesth tmeste-t e. lem n fle .l The c o in i; hisew eh e e e ezt e so hel wh c mp ne e seenirth e peratede e v burner then heats bot fi t ge teri heseceeq th te, 1

-.i ,iepen nd meiht, .ee et tten ql e of the normally R l', meintei emh h 5t heated until the main contro burner beco ere-extinsuishe whi e the m m .0-

still;opentbothzthefthenmostatieelemen W1 immedia e y-eoolmhich willnepen thenermalr open switchtclose the orm llyiclose switchendhws I the safetyiccntml valve. :The i penins nffthenp is mally open ;.zs.w.it'ch will .zdeeenergizezthel solenoid and shutsofithe supply :oftgasjto theypilotsburner,

.andsthe closing of the safety control-avalyeswill @ishut hfi thewsnpply :ofeges. rto. :.the-..:meincbumer. ielosing of the nor mallysclosedeswitch-twill e again 1.energize;-the.aelectrical iignitiona element; so

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the 60 thermostatic elements; and

pilot burner where it is ignited by the electrical the oven 2.

ignition element. described.

In the event of a current failure or in case the electrical ignition element is rendered inoperative The cycle then continues as for any reason, the thermostatic elements cannot be heated, in which case the supply of gas to both a the main burner and the pilot burner will be maintained shut ofi by the safety control valve and the solenoid-operated valve.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an Proved electrical ignition system for as burners. I

Another object of the invention is to providev in an electrical ignition system for a gas burner perature by an operating handle la.

posed in the line 5. This temperature control valve 1 may be set to maintain the oven at any desired temperature and it is controlled by a thermostatic element 8 which is disposed within The temperature regulator valve 1 may be of any' desiredgstandard type. Various different'thermostatic control valves are avail- U able, any one of which will work equally well. Consequently this valve is not shown in detail herein. The valve 1 is set to the desired tem- Between the temperature control valve 1 and the burner "I is interposed a normally closed safety valve .9; The valve 9'comprises a casing ID in which is mounted a ball H which is normally held against a seat l2 by a spring l3. The main burner I is adapted to be ignited by a pilot burner 14 to which gas is supplied through a branch con duit [5 which is connected to the main conduit automatic means for completely u t Off t 5 through a passage within the temperature con- -supply of gas to the pilot and main burners in the event'they become extinguished for any reason before the supply of gas thereto is cut ofi by themain gas control valve.

" Still another object of the invention is to 'provide in an electrical'ignition system for a gas burner automatic means for completely shutting off the supply of gasto the pilot and :main' burners in the event of a'current failure or incase the electrical ignition element is 'rendered inoperative for any reason while the main gas control valve is open.

' Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating our improved electric ignition and safety contro mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the thermostatic control unit showing the various parts thereof in burner is turned off Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the various parts in the position they assume just after the gas has been turned on by the main control valve and the master switch closed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the the position they assume during the time the parts in the position they assume during the normal operation of the burner;

- Fig 5'is aside elevation of the control unit;

j 6 is a central longitudinal section through the control unit, the plane of the section bein Fig". 9 is a transverse section taken on the line Fig. 11 is a wiringdiagram showing the electrical connections of our apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 1 indicates a burner us- -inggaseous fuel which is disposed in or in operative relation to an oven 2, one side-wall :of

6 and into the' conduit 5. A thermostatically operated temperature control valve! is intertrol valve 1. If desiredthe branch conduit [5 may be connected to the main supply conduit :5 between the main control 'valve 6 and thetemperature control valve 1; In the branch conduit ii We provide a normally closed valve is which is disposed between the pilot burner I4 and the junction of the branch conduit 15 with the main supply conduit 5. The valve I6 is adapted to be opened and maintained opened by a solenoid l1. Adjacentto main control valve 6 we dispose a master switch I 8 which is'adapted to be opened and closed by suitableconnection's [9 which are operated by the operating handle 20 of valve 6 as the' valve 6 is opened andclosed. These connections are such that when the valve 6'is opened to supply gas to the conduit 5 the switch l8 will be closed and when the "valve 6 is closed the switch l8 will be opened. i After the gash'as been turned on by opening the main control valve. 6 and closing-the master sWitch'lB, the operation of the device is automatically controlled by a control unit 2 I. The control unit 28 comprises a frame 22"on which are mounted two thermostatic elements indicated at 23 and 24 respectively. The frame 22 includes a base 25 having opening 26 therethrough adjacent the inner end thereof. The frame 22 extends through an opening 21 in the oven wall 3 and is held in position by a bracket 28.' The thermostatic elements 23 and 24 are anchored to the inner upturned end 29 of the frame 2! by screws 30 and 3| respectively. The thermostatic elements 23 and 24 are disposed above the base 25, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, and extend out through the opening 21 in the oven Wall 3. Each of the thermostaticelements 23 and 24 has an elongated opening 34 therethrough adjacent the anchored ends thereof and an upturned flan e 35 atthe other ends thereof. The outer ends of the thermostatic elements terminate adjacent a block 36 of insulating material. The block 36 rests upon a slab of insulating material 3! and is secured to the base 25-by suitable screws 36. The block 36 has secured thereto one contact 39 of a switch 40. The other contact i-ioftheswitch 40 is carried by the -upturned flange 35 of a the thermostatic element 23." A switch 42 is secured to the upturned side of the frame 22. The switch 42 comprises a; contact 44 secured'to a terminal 45 'Which'is secured to the side 43,; and a contact 46 which is secured to the outer end -of"a spring arm 41, the other end of whi'ch is suitably secured to a terminal 4 8, also carried by e upturned side 43 of the frame 22. The ter- 42. The closing of the switch 40 will again energize the electric ignition element 53. This will then heat the thermostatic element 24 and close the switch 42, which will again open the valve I and supply gas to the pilot burner I4, provided gas is available. If the burners I and I4 have been extinguished, due to a gas failure, the electric ignition element 53 will remain energized until gas is again supplied to the pilot :burner I4, where it will be ignited, after which the electric ignition element 53 will be de-energized and the safety control valve 9 opened. From this it will be seen that it will be impossible to supply gas to the main burner I unless the pilot burner I4 is ignited so that it can ignite the main burner I as soon as gas is again supplied thereto. It will also be seen that it is impossible to initially supply gas to the pilot burner I4 unless the electrical ignition element 53 is energized, as otherwise the valve I6 will be closed.

I In the event of a current failure during operation, the solenoid I! will be de-energized and cut off the supply of gas to the pilot burner I4. Thermostatic element 23 will then cool and allow the spring I3 to close the valve 9 by forcing the ball II against the seat I2. It will also be seen that if during operation the electrical ignition element 53 should get out of order and then the main burner I and pilot burner It become extinguished it will be impossible for the apparatus to again function until the electrical ignition element 53 has again been put in serviceable condition.

' When the time control mechanism 65 is used the mechanism will function as above described as long as the switches I8 and 69 are closed.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that we have provided 'a very simple and efficient apparatus for accomplishing the objects of our invention.

It is to be understood that we are not limited to the specific construction shown and described herein, as various modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an automatic ignition and control mechanism of the character described the combination of a gas burner, a supply conduit through which gas is supplied to said burner, a main control valve operative to control the admission of gas into said supply conduit, a normally closed safetyvalve in said supply conduit between said burner and said main control valve, a pilot burner disposed in position to ignite said burner, a branch conduit through which gas is supplied to said pilot burner, said branch conduit being connected to said supply conduit between said safety valve and said main control valve, a normallyclosed pilot'burner control valve in said branch conduit, a solenoid operative when energiz'ed to. maintain said pilot burner control valve open, a first thermostatic element, a sec- 'ond thermostatic element, said first thermostatic element and said second thermostatic element being mounted in position to be heated by said pilot burner, an electric ignition element operative when energized to ignite said pilot burner and to heat said first thermostatic element, an operative connection between said second thermostatic element and said safety valve through which said safety valve is maintained open while said second thermostatic element is heated, a normally ,open switch, an operative connection "between said first thermostatic element and said switch through which said switch is maintained closed by said first thermostatic element while said thermostatic element is heated, a normally closed second switch, an operative connection between said second thermostatic element and said second switch through which said second switch is maintained open by said second thermostatic element while second thermostatic element is heated, said normally open switch being operative when closed to energize said solenoid to open said pilot burner control valve to supply gas to said pilot burner, said normally closed second switch being operative when open to'de-energize said electric ignition element, a main control switch operative when closed to render said mechanism operative, and operative connections between said main control switch and said main control valve-through which said main control switch is closed by the opening of said main control valve.

2. In an automatic ignition and control mechanism of thecharacter described the combination of a gas burner, a supply conduit through which gas is supplied to said burner, a main control valve operative to control the admission of gas into said supply conduit, a normally closed safety valve in said supply conduit between said burner and said main control valve, a pilot burner disposed in position to ignite said burner, a branch conduit through which gas is supplied to said pilot burner, said branch conduit being connected to said supply conduit between said safety valve and said main control valve, a normally closed pilot burner control valve in said branch conduit, a solenoid operative when energized to maintain said pilot burner control valve open, an electric ignition element operative when energized to ignite said pilot burner, a normally open switch, a normally closed second switch, a main control switch, an electric circuit including said solenoid, said electric ignition element and said switches, a first thermostatic element mounted in position to be heated by said electric ignition element and by said pilot burner, a second thermostatic element mounted in position to be heated by said pilot burner, operative connections between said first thermostatic element and said normally open switch through which said switch is maintained closed by said thermostatic element while said thermostatic element is heated, said switch being operative when closed to energize said solenoid to open said pilot burner control valve and supply gas to said pilot burner, operative connections between said second thermostatic element and said safety valve through which said safety valve is maintained open by said second thermostat to supply gas to said burner while said second thermostat is heated and operative connections between said second thermostatic element and said second switch through which said second switch is maintained open by said second thermostatic element while said second thermostatic element is heated, said second switch being operative when open to de-energize said electric ignition element, and said main control switch being operative when closed to render said mechanism operative.

3. In an automatic ignition and control mechanism of the character described the combination of a gas burner, a supply conduit through which gas is supplied to said burner, a main control valve operative to control the admission of gas into said supply conduit, a normally closed safety valve in said supply conduit between said burner and said main control valve, a pilot burner dispo'sed'inpositiori t'o ignite saidnburner lan s'aid pilot' burner; said branch .conduit being: cons,-v ne'c ted to said-supply conduit :between said safety valve and said maincontroli valveg a normally; closed-pilot burner control-'valve in saidabranch; conduit, a solenoid-operative whenzienergized .110 malintain' said- -pilot burner control valve open} an electric ignition element operati've when: ene'r gized to ignite said pilot burner, a normallyhopena switol a normall closed second switch, a main control switch' operative"when closed to render said mechanism peratiyqa transformer having a primary windir-i rid twd'seco'nd y windings, an electric circuit iincmdinassaid imarrnwinclins and said main control switch, circuit incl-u one onsagd secondary windings said solenoi tion 1 elementand said iiorinally closed --second switch andtheother of said secondary windings, a firstthermostatioelemeht adapted to be heated by said electric-ignition-elementand said pilot burner and operative when heated to maintain said normally open switch closed to energize said solenoid and supply gas to said pilot burner, a second thermostatic element adapted to be heated by said pilot burner and operative when heated to maintain said normally closed second switch open to de-energize said electric ignition element and to maintain said safety valve open to supply gas to said burner.

l. In an automatic ignition and control mechanism of the character described the combination of a gas burner, a supply conduit through which gas is supplied to said burner, a main control valve operative to control the admission of gas into said supply conduit, a normally closed safety valve in said supply conduit between said burner and said main control valve, a pilot burner disposed in position to ignite said burner, a branch conduit through which gas is supplied to said pilot burner, said branch conduit being connected to said supply conduit between said safety valve and said main control valve, a normally closed pilot burner control valve in said branch conduit, a solenoid operative when energized to maintain said pilot burner control valve open, an electric ignition element operative when energized to ignite said pilot burner, a normally open switch, a normally closed second switch, a main control switch, a second control switch adapted to be opened and closed by a time control mechanism, said main control switch and said second control switch being operative when both are closed to render said mechanism operative, a transformer having a primary winding and two secondary windings, an electric circuit including said primary winding said main control switch and said second control switch, a second electric circuit including one of said secondary windings said solenoid and said normally open switch, a third electric circuit including said electric ignition element and said normally closed second switch and the other of said secondary windings, a first thermostatic element adapted to be heated by said electric ignition element and said pilot burner and operative when heated to maintain said normally open switch closed to energize said solenoid and supply gas to said pilot burner, a second thermostatic element adapted to be heated by said pilot burner and operative when heated to maintain said normally closed second switch open to de-energize said electric ignition element a.,seco idiel iia I 'said'n'or'mall'y'"openswitch, a thirdel'ctric circuit including said electric i'gni 10 andato. maintain said safety valvelopeneto. supply; gas to said burner. 5'; 'Anirautomatic. ignition nandtcontrol mechanism'iof the .character': describedzathe"xcombinae:

. tion of an 'oveniburneriusing gaseous fuel, aipilotl burner operativez. toiignite' saidcoven burner; electric ignition ielementi operative .lwhenz; enere: gized to ignite s'aidLpilot "burner; ataifirst thermos static element adapted to beiheatedsby said'telecel trio ignitioni element, and a2 second: thermostatic-L element; :s'aid pi-lot burner-igbeings mounted'rin post-1:. tibntmprojctiaiflameiagainsttand maintainaboth; saidfirst thermostatic elementllandfsaid second? thermostatic element heatedl duringi oper ationg't" means including sa'id first thermostatic element operative to control thesupply-of gas to said pilotiburner-gand-means' includingsaidsecond thermo staticPele'ment"operative to cqmrorni'e energiza tio'ii 'o'f said-electric ignition elementaand to do tro1-"the'supply-of gas to said-oven burner, said second 'meritioned means #bei'ngdndep'end'ent or said fi'rst mentioned-means i 1 *6 an automatic igni'tio and control mocha-- nism oi the' character- 'desc'ribe'd the combina'ti'on of a cooking range oven, an oven burner using gaseous fuel, a pilot burner disposed adjacent said oven burner within said oven and operative to ignite said oven burner, an electric ignition element disposed adjacent said pilot burner and operative when energized to ignite said pilot burner, a first thermostatic element having one end thereof disposed within said oven in position to be heated by said electric ignition element and having the other end thereof projecting out through an opening in the oven wall, a second thermostatic element having one end thereof disposed within said oven and the other end thereof projecting out through said opening in the oven wall, said pilot burner being mounted within said oven in position to project a name against and maintain both said first thermostatic element and said second thermostatic element heated during operation, means controlling the supply of fuel to said pilot burner operatively connected to the projecting end of said first thermostatic element, and means controlling the supply of fuel to said oven burner and the energization of said electric ignition element operatively connected to the projecting end of said second thermostatic element, said second mentioned means being independent of said first mentioned means.

7. An automatic ignition and control mechanism of the character described the combination of a cooking range oven, an oven burner using gaseous fuel, a pair of spaced substantially parallel thermostatic elements, each of said thermostatic elements having one end thereof anchored within said oven and the other end thereof projecting out through an opening in the oven wall, a pilot burner disposed in position to ignite said oven burner and to project a flame against and maintain both of said thermostatic elements heated near the anchored ends thereof during operation, an electric ignition element operative when energized to ignite said pilot burner and to heat one of said thermostatic elements near the anchored end thereof, means controlling the supply of fuel to said pilot burner operatively connected to the projecting end of one of said thermostatic elements, and means controlling the supply of fuel to said oven burner and the energization of said electric ignition element operatively connected to the projecting end of the other of said thermostatic elements, said second men 11? tioned means being independent of said first mentioned means.

8. In an automatic ignition and control mechanism of the character described the combination of an oven burner using gaseous fuel, a pilot burner operative to ignite said oven burner and a control unit by which the operation of said burner is controlled, said control unit comprise ing; a frame adapted to extend into an oven through an opening in one wall thereof, a pair of spaced substantially parallel thermostatic elements disposed above the base of said frame, each of said thermostatic elements having'one end thereof rigidly secured to the inner end of said frame and the other end thereof disposed adjacent the outer end of said frame, an opening through the base of said frame beneath said thermostatic elements adjacent the inner end of said frame through which said pilot burner is adapted to project a flame to heat said thermostatic elements, an electrical resistance coil suitably supported by said frame beneath the opening through the base of said frame in position to heat one of said thermostatic elements, said coil also REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,195,903 Roberts et a1 Apr. 2, 1940 2,218,771 Roberts et a1 Oct. 22, 1940 2,269,356 Beam et a1. Jan. 6, 1942 2,291,805 Denison Aug. 4, 1942 

